A 2020 audit report of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has revealed thatover 2,119 companies operating in Nigeria’s solid minerals industry owe the federation over N2.76billion.
The report revealed that the sector has contributed a paltry ¦ 651.55billion to the government’s coffers in the past 13 years.
NEITI, in a statement released, yesterday, noted that the companies’ liabilities resulted from their failure to pay statutory annual service fees for respective mineral titles.
The report stated that 6,010 existing solid mineral titles were valid as of December 31, 2020, while 7,605 mining titles were issued in the industry in the past five years.
In his comments, the Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, stressed that the agency was determined to use its reports to unveil potential revenue recoveries that were awaiting immediate action by the relevant government agencies; especially now that the government was in a desperate search for revenues to finance widening budget deficits.
He said: “It is of interest to NEITI that every kobo counts to reduce government financial burden, and our reports will continue to provide useful information and data on who owes what in the oil, gas and mining sector. This is another impact that our reports will pursue in line with our mandate”, Orji declared.
He announced that the total revenue contributions from the sector in 2020 rose to N128.27billion, an increase of over 54percent from the N74.85billion recorded in 2019 despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NEITI report also revealed that ¦ 8.89billion was shared to the federating units as solid minerals revenue in 2020.
Breakdown of the figure shows that the Federal Government received N4.07billion (45.83percent), states and local governments received N2.07billion and N1.59billion (23.25percent; 17.92percent), respectively while N1.16billion (13percent) was recorded as derivation share.
The NEITI Independent Solid Minerals Industry Report tracked and reconciled financial flows in the sector, checked quantities of minerals produced, utilised and exported in 2020.
It also examined the governance and process issues in the sector, outlined key findings and made far-reaching recommendations that require urgent remedies.
For instance, it disclosed that 71.1million metric tons of minerals were produced in 2020.
A breakdown of the total production showed that granite, limestone, sand and laterite were the highest contributors to minerals royalty payments recorded within the period.
NEITI further disclosed that five states of the federation topped the table, contributing 66percent of solid minerals produced in the country that year.
The first state is Ogun, followed by Kogi, Cross River, Edo and Bayelsastates.
On companies’ activities that shaped business investments in the solid minerals sector, the NEITI report identified Dangote Cement Plc as the first, followed by Lafarge Plc, BUA International and Dantata and Sawoe with the highest production accounting for about 64percent of the total mineral production volume in 2020.
NEITI further disclosed that total minerals exports in 2020 were 32.99million tons valued at $42.46million while China with 80percent of the total exports remained the major destination for Nigeria’s solid minerals exports.
From the report, a total of N3.87billion was recorded in 2020 as social expenditure, representing an increase of 49percent over the amount expended for the same purpose in 2019.
Besides, N5.8million was documented as environmental expenditure by three companies in the year, while information on Community Development Agreements was not disclosed.
The report further revealed that out of Nigeria’s total GDP of N152.32trillion in 2020, the solid minerals sector contributed N686.64billion representing only (0.45percent) while the sector’s contribution to the country’s exports during the period was a mere 0.14percent.
The NEITI report underlined the urgency for the government to invest aggressive energy, time, interest and resources towards the development of the solid minerals sector to maximise its potential for the future of Nigeria’s economy.
The NEITI report made 26 recommendations, one of which is the urgency to commence and intensify comprehensive reforms in the solid minerals sector.
It underlined as a priority, the restoration and establishment of a public-private-state-owned enterprise (SOE) to lead and drive investments in the sector.
This SOE, according to the report should be similar to the role of the NNPC in the oil and gas industry.
NEITI, however, strongly advised that any such public-private-state owned enterprise should adapt and emulate the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) model.
NEITI has so far published 11 cycles of the solid minerals industry reports spanning the period 2007 to 2020.
The 2020 Solid Minerals Industry report was conducted by AmeduOnekpe& Co. Chartered Accountants, an indigenous firm familiar with the principles and standards of the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and NEITI’s national mandate.